The below resources are intended for Chicago Booth students and alumni who are interested in learning more about entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA). In order to view the videos, you will need to log in with your CNET credentials. The Polsky Center’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, ETA faculty, and ETA alumni have delivered the content through workshops and information sessions.
If you missed the opportunity to join Polsky Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Alex Hodgkin, MBA ’14 for a general information session on Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), then this recording is for you. In this event recording, you will learn about the ETA programming at Chicago Booth and careers in ETA.
Produced by the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, this practical guide answers the most frequently asked questions on ETA.
This blog, written and produced by Jim Sharpe, a visiting executive at the Harvard Business School, includes comprehensive insight on raising a search, searching, and operating as a CEO. Resources include case studies, blogs relevant to search, books and guides on ETA, research, and search tips from searchers, operators, and search fund investors.
ETA Workshop: Legal Aspects of ETA – Fall 2024
Raam Jani (Partner, BakerHostetler) hosted an interactive presentation on the legal side of ETA investments and deals. A partner in BakerHostetler’s business group, Raam Jani has a varied corporate practice that includes middle-market private equity, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and search fund/entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) transactional matters, along with an entrepreneur-focused general corporate practice that provides outside general counsel services to closely-held private business clients and emerging companies across a wide spectrum of industries.
ETA Workshop: Self-Funded Search – Winter 2024
The Polsky Center hosted a panel of Booth ETA alumni who successfully launched self-funded searches, covering topics such as the self-funded search process, acquiring the business, and the day to day of running a business.
ETA Workshop: Traditional Search (Part 1)
The Polsky Center hosted Trevor Lwin, MBA ’12 (Partner, Blue Frame Capital Partners) and Nathan Dey, MBA ’16 (Managing Partner, Northspring Partners) for part one of an ETA workshop on traditional search. This interactive workshop covered disseminating the PPM and optimizing your cap table.
ETA Workshop: Traditional Search (Part 2)
The Polsky Center hosted Trevor Lwin, MBA ’12 (Partner, Blue Frame Capital Partners) and Nathan Dey, MBA ’16 (Managing Partner, Northspring Partners) for the second part of a two-part series on traditional search in ETA. This workshop covered the search phase, sourcing your search, and getting to LOI.
Driving Growth: A Speaker Series on Operating in a PE/ETA Context – Fall 2023
This lecture focused on CXO will feature Booth alum Jack Fitzgibbons MBA ’15, Jack is the Chief Executive Officer of Assembly Health, a technology enabled services provider to thousands of nursing homes and physician practices across the US. Jack was recruited to join Assembly Health as COO, and became CEO in 2021. Assembly is backed by Shore Capital, a leading microcap investor. Prior to Assembly, Jack worked at SMS Assist as Chief of Staff in a CXO like role, and started his career in healthcare consulting at Oliver Wyman. Jack received his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and his undergraduate degree at Duke University.
Driving Growth: A Speaker Series on Operating in a PE/ETA Context – Spring 2024
This lecture focused on CXO will feature Booth alum Alex Panosian, MBA ’18. Alex Panosian obtained his undergraduate degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from Booth in 2018. Growing up in Milwaukee, WI, Alex watched his dad pursue ETA before it was being taught in business schools. Currently, Alex serves as the CEO of StartGuides, a company he acquired through a method that you won’t find in a textbook. Alex has a passion for finding great small businesses to buy and run. Alex lives in the western suburbs of Chicago and spends his free time with his wife and three children.
Basics of a Traditional Search with Matthew Hooper – Fall 2024
Are you interested in acquiring and operating a business? The Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Workshop provides an in-depth introduction to the fundamentals of a traditional search fund. Led by Matthew Hooper, a seasoned search fund operator and Partner at The Operand Group, this workshop offers valuable insights into the process of acquiring a business through a search fund model. With firsthand experience as the former CEO of Hometurf Lawn Care, Matt will share his journey of acquiring the company in 2020, driving substantial growth, and eventually selling it to a private equity fund in 2023.
Driving Growth: A Speaker Series on Operating in PE/ETA Context – Fall 2024
Join us for an engaging session in the “Driving Growth” series, focusing on strategies for operating and scaling businesses within the Private Equity (PE) and Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) landscape. Our featured speaker, Aankia Patel, MBA ’20, will share valuable insights on acquisition-driven growth, operational excellence, and maximizing value post-acquisition. Anika currently the Vice President of Strategy and Business Integration at The MasterTrades Group as a CXO with Thompson Street Capital Partners. This event offers practical takeaways on navigating the challenges and opportunities in the PE/ETA space.
ETA Workshop: Self-Funded Panel – Fall 2024
Join us for a panel discussion on the self-funded search process, featuring Mark Jackson, MBA ’11, Darrin Shillair, MBA ’16, Lia Majid. Each will discuss their experiences conducting a self-funded search post-graduation, offering valuable lessons on sourcing and evaluating acquisitions, securing financing, and overcoming challenges as a first-time CEO. This session will explore the benefits and risks of self-funding, as well as practical tips for navigating the ETA landscape. Whether you’re considering a self-funded search or simply want to learn more, this panel provides an excellent opportunity to gain insights from those who have successfully taken this entrepreneurial path. Attendees will also have the chance to engage directly with the panelists during a Q&A session.
ETA Workshop: Due Diligence with Elliott Holland – Spring 2025
Join Elliott Holland, Managing Director of Guardian Due Diligence, for an in-depth discussion on the critical role of due diligence in the acquisition process. With years of experience guiding entrepreneurs through successful transactions, Elliott will break down key components of due diligence, highlighting common pitfalls and best practices. He will also share real-world examples of how thorough due diligence can mitigate risk and uncover hidden opportunities in a deal. Whether you’re an aspiring searcher or an experienced acquirer, this workshop will provide valuable insights to help you navigate the complexities of evaluating a business before making a purchase.
ETA Workshop: Investor Perspectives on Self-Funded Search Acquisitions- Spring 2025
Join Jason Ehrlich, Managing Partner of Fruition Capital, for a workshop on investor perspectives in self-funded search acquisitions. He will discuss what investors look for in target businesses, deal structures, and key investment criteria. Learn how to position your acquisition strategy for success and navigate funding considerations. The session will include practical insights and an opportunity to ask questions.
ETA Workshop: Tech Stack Setup & Best Practices
Join Skyler Almquist, Founder and Managing Partner of Alliance Growth Partners for an ETA Workshop on Tech Stack Setup & Best Practices. This session will provide essential insights into selecting, implementing, and optimizing the right technology tools to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and support scalable growth. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an experienced industry leader and gain practical strategies to build a strong and effective tech infrastructure.
ETA Workshop: Exploring Transaction Structures- Spring 2025
Join members of Redpath and Company for a workshop on the tax implications of common M&A transaction structures. This session will explore the tax consequences of asset and stock/share deals and strategies for increasing tax efficiency in these particular structures. Participants will gain valuable insights into how tax considerations can shape M&A negotiations.